CEEP Study Shows Hoosier Obesity Mirrors National Trends

Posted June 12, 2012

A new study shows Americans lag their international neighbors in terms of curbing obesity, especially among children.

A new report shows alarming trends in adult and childhood obesity among Hoosiers. The report from Indiana University’s Center for Evaluation and Education Policy says the United States ranks sixth highest in the world for the percentage of population that is considered to be obese.

The report‘s co-author, Terry Spradlin, says the numbers for Indiana are not much better. The state is 15th in the nation when it comes to overweight adults and 27th in the nation for childhood obesity.

Spradlin says there is also an economic impact as the U.S. is spending about $150 billion on obesity-related health care. Spradlin says serving breakfast is one way schools can help curb childhood obesity.

“By the schools taking on a role through the National Meal Program where breakfast programs are available to kids with low income, at least it‘s ensuring those children have access to a healthy meal to start the day,” Spradlin says.

He says obesity-related medical care accounts for about 10 percent of all medical expenses nationwide and that number is expected to grow two or three fold in the next ten years.

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